By clicking on the IE options in the big red box, you can choose in which version of IE you'd like to view a webpage. The address bar is found in the little red box.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
IETester: Finding the pitfalls of Internet Explorer
I just came across a wonderful tool that needs to be shared. IETester is a benevolent program that allows developers to view a webpage in all extant versions of the world's worst browser simultaneously (and without having to install several Virtual PC's on your computer). It's free, and relatively compact - 110 MB when fully installed.
By clicking on the IE options in the big red box, you can choose in which version of IE you'd like to view a webpage. The address bar is found in the little red box.
If you have to work with Internet Explorer as much as I do, I think you'll find this to be a very helpful tool.
By clicking on the IE options in the big red box, you can choose in which version of IE you'd like to view a webpage. The address bar is found in the little red box.
Labels:
internet,
web development
Thursday, October 13, 2011
A Prayer for Guidance
Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being.
Guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares
and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may
remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(BAS, A Prayer for Guidance, 130)
Guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares
and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may
remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(BAS, A Prayer for Guidance, 130)
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
iframes CAN have 100% height
I made a handy find the other day: a simple script that allows your iframe to expand to 100% of the page. This is currently impossible with CSS, but with a few lines of javascript, when you shout, "Expand!", your iframe will ask, "How high?!"
I found this script at: http://www.activewidgets.com/javascript.forum.10948.6/is-there-any-way-to.html
Here is the iframe code you need:
Demo: http://lukejohnson.ca/code/iframe-100-height.php
I found this script at: http://www.activewidgets.com/javascript.forum.10948.6/is-there-any-way-to.html
<script language="JavaScript">
<!--
function resize_iframe()
{
document.getElementById("info").innerHTML='iframe offsetTop: <b> '+document.getElementById("glu").offsetTop+"</b><br>body.offsetHeight:<b>"+document.body.offsetHeight+"</b>";//display some information on the screen
var height=window.innerWidth;//Firefox
if (document.body.clientHeight)
{
height=document.body.clientHeight;//IE
}
document.getElementById("glu").style.height=parseInt(height-document.getElementById("glu").offsetTop-8)+"px";//resize the iframe according to the size of the window
//document.getElementById("glu").height=document.body.offsetHeight-document.getElementById("glu").offsetTop-26;
}
/*
//Here is another way to define the function (this function reloads the page whenever the user resizes the page)
window.onresize=
function (e)
{
location.reload();
};
*/
window.onresize=resize_iframe; //instead of using this you can use: <body onresize="resize_iframe()">
//-->
</script>
I wanted my iframed page to appear to take up the entire page without displaying scrollbars of its own. The script on its own was displaying secondary scrollbars, but with a little CSS, I was able to get rid of them, leaving only one scrollbar:<style type="text/css">
*, html, body {width: 100%; height: 100%; margin: 0; padding: 0;}
body {width: 100%; overflow: hidden;}
#glu {border: 0;}
</style>
Here is the iframe code you need:
<iframe src="YOUR_WEBPAGE_URL" frameborder="0" id="glu" onload="resize_iframe()" scrolling="auto" width="100%"></iframe>And presto! You will have an iframe that takes up the entire window, which will resize to your browser window's size.
Demo: http://lukejohnson.ca/code/iframe-100-height.php
Labels:
code,
web development
Friday, July 29, 2011
Anglican Liturgical Calendar PHP Script
For any Anglican webmasters out there, this is a great find! A PHP script that determines which day it is on the liturgical calendar (of the Church of England). It can be placed within any tag. The author has it set in h3 tags, which can be formatted easily with CSS however you wish.
Kudos to Don C. Warrington, https://www.vulcanhammer.org/anglican-calendar-script/
View code here: http://phpscripts4u.com/calendars/php-anglican-calendar-script/
Kudos to Don C. Warrington, https://www.vulcanhammer.org/anglican-calendar-script/
View code here: http://phpscripts4u.com/calendars/php-anglican-calendar-script/
Labels:
anglicanism,
liturgical calendar,
php,
web development
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
"Berrying" Jesus
Here is a grammatical quandary for you:
Why is "buried" or "bury" so often pronounced as "berried" or "berry"? This is a very irregular pronunciation of the English "u". It would be odd to say, "I like Sehbway sandwiches," or, "The good, the bad, and the 'ehgly'".
Similarly spelled English words follow the normal pronunciation of "u", such as "hurry" (which, at least in colloquial speech, actually sounds a little more like "er" as in "her"). I'd even accept "uh" as in "up" or "oo" as in "rude". But this "eh" pronunciation is just a little unnatural.
This comes to mind every Sunday as we recite the Apostles' Creed, and I hear 80-some voices say, "He was crucified, died, and was 'berried'", as if somehow Jesus was made berry-like after death, or trounced by a horde of berries (just like a mob "mobs" somebody).
If there is a grammatical guru out there with an explanation, I'm all ears!
UPDATE:
Dr. Rhoda Cairns, English professor at Briercrest, kindly set me straight:
Why is "buried" or "bury" so often pronounced as "berried" or "berry"? This is a very irregular pronunciation of the English "u". It would be odd to say, "I like Sehbway sandwiches," or, "The good, the bad, and the 'ehgly'".
Similarly spelled English words follow the normal pronunciation of "u", such as "hurry" (which, at least in colloquial speech, actually sounds a little more like "er" as in "her"). I'd even accept "uh" as in "up" or "oo" as in "rude". But this "eh" pronunciation is just a little unnatural.
If there is a grammatical guru out there with an explanation, I'm all ears!
UPDATE:
Dr. Rhoda Cairns, English professor at Briercrest, kindly set me straight:
I'm not a phonetics expert by any means, but the OED gives the pronunciation of "bury" thus: /ˈbɛrɪ/. According to one elaborate phonetic chart I found, the symbol for the "u" is pronounced as a short "e," as in "eh" and "head." If the symbol were flipped horizontally, then the pronunciation *would* be the "er" sound, as in "urge" and "heard." So it is perfectly correct to "berry" Jesus, as far as I can ascertain. There is an obsolete English noun,"bury," that comes from the Old English word "burh"; the OED definition is "manor house or large farm." So you could "bury" ("berry") Jesus on a "bury."
Labels:
apostles creed,
grammar,
grammatical quandary,
pronunciation
Thursday, June 30, 2011
It's Time to Dance!
MA Biblical Languages and Exegesis
Download the program sheet. Do it.
Let the heavens rejoice!
Let the students be glad (and enroll)!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Cars, Cares, and χάρις (charis)
Our car died on Friday. More accurately, our car experienced catastrophic engine failure which ultimately rendered the car useless. Upsetting news? Well, for the first five minutes or so it was, until I felt an odd sensation of relief. Sure, it's a pain to be without a car in Caronport. But the car is 21 years old, fraught with parts soon to be in need of attention. So, when I told my wife, "The car's dead," I was able say it with a laugh. "That's the last dollar I'll ever spend on that old thing!"
Being car-less has made me think about the attention I give to the stuff I own. Being a North American is expensive. I often find myself hating money. First it's expensive to buy something like a TV or computer or car, but then more money has to be spent to protect the stuff, which is ongoing in case anything ever happens to it. First-world civilization tells us that we need a lot of things to live properly: like couches, kitchen appliances, computers, phones, decorations, bookshelves, sporting equipment, entertainment electronics . . . It turns out that the more stuff you have, the more you're weighed down. Have you ever moved? Nothing indicates how much stuff you have as moving it all from the house to a truck (several times) into another house. It takes a lot of stuff to live in Canada.
I can appreciate a story told by one of my Seminary professors. Dr. Marty Culy had traveled to Thailand (for ministry or work I can't remember), and was shown hospitality by a happy older couple who lived out in the jungle. When he arrived at their 'house', which was a platform with no walls and no possessions to speak of, they greeted him warmly, and immediately began a half-hour search for a cup so that they could serve him water. The ancient Spartans' living arrangements must have looked like Buckingham Palace in comparison. Put a North American in that jungle house, and it would instantly be regarded as intolerable poverty. But this jungle couple were incredibly honored to have a guest, and remained permanently, inexplicably happy. Their poverty had nothing to do with their happiness. They trusted the Lord for everything. They lived to serve Jesus, and had no care for bolstering their financial portfolio, or for establishing some kind of financial stability. I think about that couple from time to time whenever I look around at our apartment and realize how very rich we are.
Now, I'm not intending to follow suite... I'm quite certain that one winter in Caronport on a platform without walls would not be 'intolerable poverty', but certain death. It might be easier to get by with little in a place where it's always warm, but the tractor beam of the lust of wealth draws warm-climated folk as much as the colder kind. I know I'm guilty of it. I'm a web developer. I like shiny devices that do fun things. But losing a car is a healthy reminder of the place wealth needs to hold in my life. Things are just things. They don't hold any promise. Neither Jesus nor Paul said anything like, "You are justified by wealth, but stuff alone." So why do I act like that? Why do I think of things I could buy, and look for jobs that pay well, and plan for the future with my fancy spreadsheets?
Well, that's the irony I suppose. Just like my doomed car, I too am fraught with parts that need attention, and am destined for the wrecking yard. But unlike my doomed car, I'm not doomed. Luckily I have a Redeemer who is willing to fit me for a new engine, and fix the rusty exterior, and realign my tires . . .
And the only proper response is one I've repeated often as a new Anglican:
"Thanks be to God."
Being car-less has made me think about the attention I give to the stuff I own. Being a North American is expensive. I often find myself hating money. First it's expensive to buy something like a TV or computer or car, but then more money has to be spent to protect the stuff, which is ongoing in case anything ever happens to it. First-world civilization tells us that we need a lot of things to live properly: like couches, kitchen appliances, computers, phones, decorations, bookshelves, sporting equipment, entertainment electronics . . . It turns out that the more stuff you have, the more you're weighed down. Have you ever moved? Nothing indicates how much stuff you have as moving it all from the house to a truck (several times) into another house. It takes a lot of stuff to live in Canada.
I can appreciate a story told by one of my Seminary professors. Dr. Marty Culy had traveled to Thailand (for ministry or work I can't remember), and was shown hospitality by a happy older couple who lived out in the jungle. When he arrived at their 'house', which was a platform with no walls and no possessions to speak of, they greeted him warmly, and immediately began a half-hour search for a cup so that they could serve him water. The ancient Spartans' living arrangements must have looked like Buckingham Palace in comparison. Put a North American in that jungle house, and it would instantly be regarded as intolerable poverty. But this jungle couple were incredibly honored to have a guest, and remained permanently, inexplicably happy. Their poverty had nothing to do with their happiness. They trusted the Lord for everything. They lived to serve Jesus, and had no care for bolstering their financial portfolio, or for establishing some kind of financial stability. I think about that couple from time to time whenever I look around at our apartment and realize how very rich we are.
Now, I'm not intending to follow suite... I'm quite certain that one winter in Caronport on a platform without walls would not be 'intolerable poverty', but certain death. It might be easier to get by with little in a place where it's always warm, but the tractor beam of the lust of wealth draws warm-climated folk as much as the colder kind. I know I'm guilty of it. I'm a web developer. I like shiny devices that do fun things. But losing a car is a healthy reminder of the place wealth needs to hold in my life. Things are just things. They don't hold any promise. Neither Jesus nor Paul said anything like, "You are justified by wealth, but stuff alone." So why do I act like that? Why do I think of things I could buy, and look for jobs that pay well, and plan for the future with my fancy spreadsheets?
Well, that's the irony I suppose. Just like my doomed car, I too am fraught with parts that need attention, and am destined for the wrecking yard. But unlike my doomed car, I'm not doomed. Luckily I have a Redeemer who is willing to fit me for a new engine, and fix the rusty exterior, and realign my tires . . .
And the only proper response is one I've repeated often as a new Anglican:
"Thanks be to God."
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Things I Learned at Prairie Dev Con 2011
I attended Prairie Development Conference this year in Regina. It definitely qualifies as a "hoot". 167 programmers, web developers, and nerds were in attendance. Here is what I learned:- It's cool to use Twitter to ask questions during class sessions.
- The quirky, quasi-antisocial stereotype of techies actually exists. (e.g., Don't ask two guys who happen to look alike if they are brothers...)
- I am a "web dev".
- Programmers love chicken wings.
- HTML5 is the miracle the web has been praying for.
- There are other people out there like me who think that talking about code is fun.
- Microsoft might be a big scary monster, but it can also be helpful, and even innovative. (The folks at Microsoft are investing millions of dollars into developing HTML5. Needless to say, this "web dev" is happy.)
- According to David Alpert, our front-to-back approach to web planning gets an A+. (Don't start with databases; they only store data, not feelings. Always design with the end user in mind.)
- In the world of web development, I'm still very much a padawan. As much as I've learned, I'm still just a Marshwiggle wandering in the Wild Lands of the North.
Labels:
html5,
web development
Monday, May 23, 2011
Confirmation
At church this weekend my wife and I (and three friends) celebrated our confirmation. It was a really great service. We have such wonderful leaders in the Diocese of Qu'Applle. Our priest, Fr. Allen Doerksen, has been such a formative influence for my wife and I throughout these past 12 months of exploration. And this area is very fortunate to have the very wise (and hilarious) Bishop Gregory at the helm.It's interesting that after growing up in free-church traditions, such as Mennonite Brethren and Christian & Missionary Alliance, I've really come to feel at home in an Anglican context. Liturgy has a way of gluing itself to your bones. Once it's in you, it's there to stay.
A few funny moments from the morning:
At our rehearsal before the service, we were up at the front, reading through the confirmation liturgy with the Bishop, and I realized I had accidentally turned to the "Ordination of Bishops" section. Woops! A little ahead of myself... I got that straightened out before "showtime"...
Also, after the service concluded, a sweet old lady came over to me, shook my hand and said, "Welcome to the club!" I love old people! They are an inspiring bunch, those who have remained committed to their faith for almost as many decades as there are seasons of Smallville! What better "club" to be part of than one full of these kinds of folks!
During the Bishop's sermon, he noted that "the Church is always one generation away from extinction." One elderly man told us, "It can be discouraging to imagine what will become of the church in the next generation, but when I see young people like you doing this [becoming confirmed], I'm filled with hope."
I doubt I'll ever sign up for ordained ministry, but I'm definitely in for the lay-person long-haul. I'm excited by the need for leadership in the church today, and the great challenges that are sure to come.
It's a good day to be Anglican!
Labels:
anglicanism,
church,
news
Monday, May 16, 2011
The Expiry Date of the Universe: Saturday?
I've been following/enjoying a bit of the "May 21/Judgment Day" stuff online. The eisegesis employed is simultaneously horrifying and downright entertaining. This is the magic of ahistorical interpretation. As I've been reading through eBibleFellowship's carefully crafted bulletin, two questions come to mind: 1) Why does this keep happening? 2) What should we do about it?
The first is easier to answer. These sorts of groups have made these sorts of statements for centuries. But the real problem is improper focus. Jesus said quite clearly in both Mark and Matthew that "about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son; only the Father" (Matt 24:36; Mark 13:32). Our time and energy is not best spent upon deciphering when it's all over. (Nor is it best spent arguing over how we got here.) It's simply something we cannot, and will not, figure out. Only the Father decides when he will wrap up history and fulfill the promises he has made throughout time.
So then, this brings us to the second question. What should we do with people who cling to this sort of interpretation? Well, there are obvious things we can do, like offer solid teaching, and coming along side them as confused, unfortunate people.
But is that all?
I think I have a constructive, effective solution. Those who are committed to this Saturday's Judgment should be allowed to enjoy it. Why not? Furthermore -- this is the meat of it -- since they will likely also assume that they will be leaving the Earth this weekend, they should be allowed to do so.
How?
Well, Endeavor already left, so that won't work...
I was thinking of a more earth-bound solution. I think a good way to discourage this kind of irresponsible eisegesis is to cancel all their earthly identification. Credit cards, driver's licenses, health cards, house deeds, passports, etc... If leaving is what they want, then this method will be quite effective. Truly, they won't be citizens of this world any longer.Additionally, I think this might also help with rebuilding their lives after the disappointment of May 22 hits. Without ID or homes, they'll be free to move where they please and become whoever they want -- to truly start over, which might be an attractive option, given the embarrassment of returning to work on Monday morning... So really, this is a merciful, redemptive option.
Labels:
culture,
eschatology
Saturday, May 14, 2011
An Epic End to a Super Story
After 10 seasons and 218 episodes, Smallville finally came to a close last night. That's roughly 165 hours total - almost enough to watch 24 hours a day for a week straight.
As sad as I am to see the show wrap up, I'm happy that after 10 years, the producers of Smallville were able to end it so well. Not many shows last a decade; not many shows should. But Smallville's strong plot and well-developed characters enabled a good idea to become not only a great show, but a worthy contribution to the larger legacy of the Superman mythos.
I think Smallville's success can be chalked up to the producers' and writers' motivation in the creation of each week's episode. In an interview promoting season 8 of Smallville, executive producers Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders said they considered their job well done if their viewers were left thinking, "I want to be like Clark Kent."
A show based on the early life of Superman is fun to watch. It's got to be one of the most wholesome, inspiring hero stories around. And, since Smallville inevitably points toward Clark Kent donning the cape, the end is in sight from the beginning; from the very first episode, the conclusion is sure. The fun is in watching all the struggles and triumphs that shape Clark along the way.I could say more, but I'd rather that you just go and watch it for yourself. It's fun, it's charming, and now it's over.
Labels:
smallville,
superman,
tv
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Challenging Words at the Royal Wedding
I'm a big fan of clergy who assertively speak their minds within our increasingly relativistic culture. Two of the clergy who spoke at the Royal wedding, Rowan Williams (Archbishop of Cantebury) and Richard Chartres (Lord Bishop of London and Dean of Her Majesty's Chapels Royal), made strong statements about marriage and the place God holds in people's lives.
The Archbishop said this directly before leading the couple through their vows:
"I require and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgement when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God's word doth allow are not joined together by God; neither is their matrimony lawful."
Next, the Lord Bishop of London, who gave the homily, said this about marriage and God's place in the lives of Western people:
"As the reality of God has faded from so many lives in the West, there has been a corresponding inflation of expectations that personal relations alone will supply meaning and happiness in life. This is to load our partner with too great a burden. We're all incomplete. We all need the love which is secure rather than oppressive. We all need mutual forgiveness in order to thrive. But as we move toward our partner in love, following the example of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is quickened within us, and can increasingly fill our lives with light. And this leads on to a family life, which offers the best conditions in which the next generation can receive and exchange those gifts, which can overcome fear and division and incubate the coming world of the Spirit whose fruits are love and joy and peace."
Good and challenging words.
(via http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-wedding/8479433/Royal-wedding-the-Order-of-Service-in-full.html)
 |
The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan |
"I require and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgement when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God's word doth allow are not joined together by God; neither is their matrimony lawful."
 |
The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dr Richard Chartres KCVO, Lord Bishop of London and Dean of Her Majesty's Chapels Royal |
"As the reality of God has faded from so many lives in the West, there has been a corresponding inflation of expectations that personal relations alone will supply meaning and happiness in life. This is to load our partner with too great a burden. We're all incomplete. We all need the love which is secure rather than oppressive. We all need mutual forgiveness in order to thrive. But as we move toward our partner in love, following the example of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is quickened within us, and can increasingly fill our lives with light. And this leads on to a family life, which offers the best conditions in which the next generation can receive and exchange those gifts, which can overcome fear and division and incubate the coming world of the Spirit whose fruits are love and joy and peace."
Good and challenging words.
(via http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-wedding/8479433/Royal-wedding-the-Order-of-Service-in-full.html)
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Royalty
She grew up as, more or less, a "regular" person. She just happened to attend the same university as the future king. I wonder if she ever imagined that she would be Queen one day? Or that her children will be heirs to the British crown?
With that in mind, I can't help thinking about the (perhaps obvious) parallel to our destiny in Christ. We are joint heirs with him (Rom 8:17). In the very same way that HRH became royalty by being the bride of an heir to the throne, so will we be presented as the bride of Christ, and thus will be "royalty" by our marriage to Christ (Rev 21:2,9).
And while we wait for Christ's return as King, we speak and act as joint heirs with him, grafted into royal life with Jesus through the mercy of his cross.
Labels:
monarchy
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Please, browse responsibly: Drop Internet Explorer!
 |
| This isn't me, but I certainly made this face today... |
Do you use Internet Explorer? Many people still do. Web statistics show that more than 40% of people on the internet use some version of IE. The primary reason is that Internet Explorer comes pre-installed on your Windows PC. This is how the sneaky bandit named Bill Gates tricks unsuspecting people into using poorly made, truly frustrating software.
This is my plea:
Stop using Internet Explorer and, please, download anything else!
Nowadays, there are a plethora of better options.
Download it here.
Download it here.
Download it here.
Download it here.
You might be asking by now, "Why all this fuss?" Well, it's very simple:
Modern browsers follow web standards, but Internet Explorer does not.
The internet is very young. It's only been around since the mid-80's. In the past 20 years or so, the internet has matured very quickly. We use web standards now in the construction of websites. These standards are very important because if every browser follows the standards, then the internet stays a happy, properly structured, safe, and pretty place to play.
The reason why I'm cyber-bullying Internet Explorer is because it refuses to follow web standards (HTML5/CSS3). Try as they might, Microsoft just can't put a decent version together. Even the latest version, Internet Explorer 9, fails miserably. Sure, it picks up on a few things that earlier versions didn't, but it is still a horrible browser, and a bad waste of your harddrive space (and sanity).
The only way that Microsoft will change its evil ways is if upstanding citizens, such as yourself, choose to throw off the IE chains that bind you, and embrace a much better way to view the web. (And you'll be making my job easier.)
Please, browse responsibly.
Labels:
browsers,
internet,
web development,
web standards
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Notepad++ inactive tab-color fix
The file you need to alter is stylers.xml, which in Windows 7 is found in: C:\\Users\[your user file]\AppData\Roaming\Notepad++\stylers.xml.
Right at the bottom of the document, the very last WidgetStyle
I've already changed the hex colors to what I like. The fgColor controls the text color ("foreground"), and the bgColor controls the background color. Set those however you like, restart your code editor, and you should be in business!
via: Sourceforge bug support
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Mot and an Overreading of "Starship Mine"
Exegesis is a funny thing. To misquote the apostle Paul, exegesis infiltrates the mind like "a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough" (1 Cor 5:6). My life, and television-viewing for that matter, has never been the same since I've become a student of biblical exegesis. For the most part, as it pertains to TV, an interest in interpretation and narratology has been very fruitful, resulting in greater engagement with plots and character development.
Sometimes, however, I "find" things the writers didn't intend...
I was recently inspired by a friend to stroll again through the memorable seasons of Star Trek: the Next Generation. In the episode "Starship Mine" the Enterprise is taken over by a group of bandits who are after some of the ship's propulsion components, which they attempt to steal while the ship's crew is on "shore leave", on a starbase. Only Cpt. Picard remains on board, unnoticed by the bandits.
When Picard is discovered, they demand to know his name, and he answers, "Mot. My name is Mot. I'm the barber." It makes sense for Picard to give a false name, because it's fairly evident that, should the bandits learn he is the captain, they will kill him. But what comes next caused my exegetical ears to perk up.
As the episode proceeds, Picard kills most of the bandit crew. Picard uses an uncharacteristic amount of lethal force in this episode. Picard is a diplomat, usually relying on his ace negotiating skills to to diffuse a tense situation.
The combination of his stated name, "Mot," and the great amount of death Picard causes got me thinking, "Do the writers of Star Trek know Ancient Near Eastern mythology?!"
In ANE mythology (which includes the Old Testament), "death" or מות (mōt) is personified, and often functions in stories and poetry as a character. Since Picard took the name of "Mot", or "Death," I naturally became very intrigued with the writers' apparent mythological prowess. Since Star Trek: the Next Generation already makes frequent reference to Greek mythology, and since Picard is always telling Commander Riker, "You should really read more history," a further reference to Ancient Near Eastern mythology didn't seem like too far of a stretch.
That is... until I watched through several more episodes and found out that there actually is a barber on the Enterprise named Mot...
So, rather than expertly perceiving a subtle allusion to מות, I had rather unintentionally performed a classic case of 'eisegesis'; I had read an obscure mythological reference into the story. Sorry, Mr. Mot. I had you all wrong.
Sometimes, however, I "find" things the writers didn't intend...
I was recently inspired by a friend to stroll again through the memorable seasons of Star Trek: the Next Generation. In the episode "Starship Mine" the Enterprise is taken over by a group of bandits who are after some of the ship's propulsion components, which they attempt to steal while the ship's crew is on "shore leave", on a starbase. Only Cpt. Picard remains on board, unnoticed by the bandits.
When Picard is discovered, they demand to know his name, and he answers, "Mot. My name is Mot. I'm the barber." It makes sense for Picard to give a false name, because it's fairly evident that, should the bandits learn he is the captain, they will kill him. But what comes next caused my exegetical ears to perk up.
As the episode proceeds, Picard kills most of the bandit crew. Picard uses an uncharacteristic amount of lethal force in this episode. Picard is a diplomat, usually relying on his ace negotiating skills to to diffuse a tense situation.
The combination of his stated name, "Mot," and the great amount of death Picard causes got me thinking, "Do the writers of Star Trek know Ancient Near Eastern mythology?!"
In ANE mythology (which includes the Old Testament), "death" or מות (mōt) is personified, and often functions in stories and poetry as a character. Since Picard took the name of "Mot", or "Death," I naturally became very intrigued with the writers' apparent mythological prowess. Since Star Trek: the Next Generation already makes frequent reference to Greek mythology, and since Picard is always telling Commander Riker, "You should really read more history," a further reference to Ancient Near Eastern mythology didn't seem like too far of a stretch.
 |
| Mot the Barber |
So, rather than expertly perceiving a subtle allusion to מות, I had rather unintentionally performed a classic case of 'eisegesis'; I had read an obscure mythological reference into the story. Sorry, Mr. Mot. I had you all wrong.
Monday, February 28, 2011
The Heart of Ezekiel 11
Yahweh makes an amazing, and well-known, promise to Israel in Ezekiel 11: He promises to return them from exile and to “remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh” (Ezek 11:19). Whenever I have read this passage or heard it preached, I’ve usually understood Ezekiel’s contrast to have been based on the physical qualities (softness/hardness; warmth/coldness) of “flesh” versus “stone.”
While their physical qualities are likely in the background, an interpretation more sensitive to Ezekiel’s use of language places the focus upon the contrast between the worship of Yahweh and that of Israel’s detestable idols. Earlier in Ezekiel, the rebellious idol-worshippers are described as having foreheads “like the hardest stone, harder than flint” (Ezek 3:9). They are people whose “adulterous hearts” have turned away from Yahweh, and whose eyes have “lusted after their idols” (Ezek 6:9). The connection between a “forehead as hard as stone” and a “heart of stone” is fairly concrete (excuse the pun...). The connection between Yahweh and "flesh" is less so, but arguable nonetheless. As in many prophetic texts, Yahweh is declared to be superior to idols and pagan gods because he is alive and has command of his senses and achieves mighty deeds for his people. Though there is no direct literary link between Yahweh and the “heart of flesh”, such a link can be suggested since the contrast Yahweh draws between "stone" and "flesh" comes in a passage which discusses where Israel's worship and allegiance should lie.
So then, given Ezekiel's use of "stone" and its contrast with "flesh," Yahweh is communicating that the make-up of Israel's heart will mirror the characteristics of the sort of deity they serve. They have worshiped lifeless idols made of stone, and so they receive a lifeless heart of stone. When their worship returns to Yahweh, he gives them a heart of flesh: a living heart from the living God.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
"Don't Do as the Romans Do": Anti-assimilation and Old Testament Narrative in Revelation
This week I got to engage in some academic fun. I was invited to share a paper at Briercrest College and Seminary's Bible/Theology Colloquium. For those interested, here is a summary excerpt from the paper:
John’s use of Old Testament narrative in Revelation is united in purpose. His primary concern is to warn the churches of the grave danger of entering into the sexual immorality and idolatry so aggressively prescribed by the surrounding culture. His goal in alluding to Old Testament characters and narratives is to firmly assert the vital importance of remaining faithful to Jesus in the face of severe (and even deadly) persecution. Examples from Israel’s past are called to mind as both admonition against assimilation and motivation for repentance and endurance. John’s use of the Old Testament beckons, “Do not imitate the practices of the nations around you! Remember how Jezebel, Ahab, Balaam, and Pharaoh suffered on account of their wickedness, and Israel for its unfaithfulness!”
From the stories of Jezebel and Balaam the churches are reminded of the destruction that falls upon those who are unfaithful to the Lord. From the stories of Daniel and Exodus, they are instructed to remember that God delivers those who remain his faithful servants. Though they might be crushed under an enemy’s heel now, they will ultimately receive vindication and restoration. God will not allow a beast to conquer them nor a Pharaoh to enslave them forever. He will utterly destroy these satanic enemies, and will set up his people in a place of authority, even to rule with him. John’s message is one of concern and hope. His desire is for all the churches to be included among the overcomers, those who will make up the faithful bride of Christ.If you are interested in the rest of the paper, it can be downloaded here.
Labels:
apocalyptic literature,
colloquium,
NT,
revelation
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Winter winds blow whilst ye still remain
I often wonder what scholars of the future will say about the things we experience everyday here and now. In much of the reading I've done on the historical Jesus or on the historical background of the New Testament, or on the formation and identity of first-century Judaism, I find that scholars make a lot of estimations about how life and culture worked long ago. Maybe the Jews of Jesus' day spoke Aramaic, or maybe they spoke Hebrew. Maybe Judaism was a very strict, legalistic system. Or, maybe it was full of grace and facilitated the understanding of God as a loving Father that Jesus taught. These sorts of academic estimations are part of the game. It makes me wonder how scholars of the 27th century will try to reconstruct daily life in the Canadian prairies.
Take, for instance, our winters. Five months of snow, sun dogs, blizzards, frozen batteries, mittens, ice rinks, and sub-zero temperatures. Maybe that's an unfair list, but they are definitely elements of winter. But suppose at a certain point in history, global warming does away with our frigid part of the year. What if, by the middle of the 22nd century, winter has seen its last snowflake, and November-March becomes an extended Autumn and slow transition to Spring. Suppose no one has seen a snowflake in many generations, and natural ice becomes a thing of legend. "Your great-great-great-great grandfather was a hockey player. He had an ice rink outside his house where he and his friends would play for hours. They called it 'scrimmage'."
I wonder if, perhaps, historians would negotiate on the actual whiteness of the snow, or quibble on how cold it really felt, or if the winters were really five months long. What effect did sub-zero temperatures, apparently dropping as low as -45C, have on the common combustion engine? Was hockey really a common pastime, or is that only a generalization? There is certainly evidence of many ice rinks in the Canadian prairies: archaeologists even unearthed what appears to be a "Zamboni," though its precise function and pronunciation is still a cause of great debate among historiomechanists.
Once in a while, usually through the reading I do for Seminary, I ponder the great expanse of time that separates us from truly understanding some of the events and people that have shaped the understanding of the world, and of ourselves, that we hold today, and I get to thinking about (admittedly ridiculous) things such as these. Anyway, while history's ever-advancing charge allows, enjoy the mundane, the normal, and even the winter.
Take, for instance, our winters. Five months of snow, sun dogs, blizzards, frozen batteries, mittens, ice rinks, and sub-zero temperatures. Maybe that's an unfair list, but they are definitely elements of winter. But suppose at a certain point in history, global warming does away with our frigid part of the year. What if, by the middle of the 22nd century, winter has seen its last snowflake, and November-March becomes an extended Autumn and slow transition to Spring. Suppose no one has seen a snowflake in many generations, and natural ice becomes a thing of legend. "Your great-great-great-great grandfather was a hockey player. He had an ice rink outside his house where he and his friends would play for hours. They called it 'scrimmage'."
I wonder if, perhaps, historians would negotiate on the actual whiteness of the snow, or quibble on how cold it really felt, or if the winters were really five months long. What effect did sub-zero temperatures, apparently dropping as low as -45C, have on the common combustion engine? Was hockey really a common pastime, or is that only a generalization? There is certainly evidence of many ice rinks in the Canadian prairies: archaeologists even unearthed what appears to be a "Zamboni," though its precise function and pronunciation is still a cause of great debate among historiomechanists.
Once in a while, usually through the reading I do for Seminary, I ponder the great expanse of time that separates us from truly understanding some of the events and people that have shaped the understanding of the world, and of ourselves, that we hold today, and I get to thinking about (admittedly ridiculous) things such as these. Anyway, while history's ever-advancing charge allows, enjoy the mundane, the normal, and even the winter.
Labels:
history,
saskatchewan
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Reaching for the Stars: Star Trek and today's hand-held devices
I love techy innovation. I don't mind Facebook, though many like to hate it, because Facebook pushed us to think about online communication in new ways. I like Gmail because the folks at Google blew open our old (Microsoft-based) conceptions of what an email account can do. I like Apple because they might be the most innovative company around these days. I think the biggest reason I like Apple is because I like Star Trek, and it seems like Apple are the folks who are helping us catch up to Kirk and Picard.
"What in the world are you talking about?" you might ask? Well, consider how far our technology has come in the past few decades.
First of all, here is Cpt. Kirk, back in the sixties, using a flip device to communicate with the Enterprise. Does this look familiar? Back in those days, a flip-phone was pretty inventive. I remember even back in the mid-90's, my dad's cell phone was enormous -- bigger even than most wireless house phones today! But nowadays, flip-phones are not only common, but even being left behind by other devices, like smart phones.
The next great Star Trek innovation in communication was the "communicator", a little A-shaped device worn by everybody in Star Fleet. With a click of the device, a communication channel is opened to the ship orbiting above. But is this so futuristic anymore? We have ways to communicate with a little click of a wireless device: Bluetooth. It might be worn on the head rather than the chest, but the idea is basically the same. (Though the Star Trek communicator might have had better range... So far I haven't heard of Astronauts using Bluetooth to communicate with Houston...)
One more futuristic innovation: this is where Apple comes in. Each day, Commander Riker comes to Captain Picard's ready room with the daily report. He offers Picard a tablet device, upon which Picard uses his finger to navigate through the various reports. Back in the late-80's to mid-90's, this hand-held, slim computer was pretty amazing. After all, in 1984, only a few years before this scene with Picard was filmed, Apple had released its first ever Mac. Picard's tablet looks a little more advanced... But, now 27 years later, Apple has caught up to the good captain, and offers a pretty futuristic device that anybody (or perhaps everybody) can (or perhaps should) use: the iPad.
So, in a few communicative ways, we've caught up to the Star Trek universe. But one key ingredient remains: warp-drive! According to Star Trek lore, it's the warp-drive signature left in space by the first warp-drive engine that attracts the attention of the Vulcans and prompts them to make first contact with the people of Earth, ushering our little planet into a bright future of intergalactic proportions. Much like Kip from Napoleon Dynamite, I must confess that "I love technology," and the innovations of people like Apple have raised my hopes that one day we'll find people with pointy ears and bumpy foreheads, and Soong-made androids, and neutral zones, and delta quadrants.
Alright, enough nerdiness for today.
"What in the world are you talking about?" you might ask? Well, consider how far our technology has come in the past few decades.First of all, here is Cpt. Kirk, back in the sixties, using a flip device to communicate with the Enterprise. Does this look familiar? Back in those days, a flip-phone was pretty inventive. I remember even back in the mid-90's, my dad's cell phone was enormous -- bigger even than most wireless house phones today! But nowadays, flip-phones are not only common, but even being left behind by other devices, like smart phones.
The next great Star Trek innovation in communication was the "communicator", a little A-shaped device worn by everybody in Star Fleet. With a click of the device, a communication channel is opened to the ship orbiting above. But is this so futuristic anymore? We have ways to communicate with a little click of a wireless device: Bluetooth. It might be worn on the head rather than the chest, but the idea is basically the same. (Though the Star Trek communicator might have had better range... So far I haven't heard of Astronauts using Bluetooth to communicate with Houston...)
One more futuristic innovation: this is where Apple comes in. Each day, Commander Riker comes to Captain Picard's ready room with the daily report. He offers Picard a tablet device, upon which Picard uses his finger to navigate through the various reports. Back in the late-80's to mid-90's, this hand-held, slim computer was pretty amazing. After all, in 1984, only a few years before this scene with Picard was filmed, Apple had released its first ever Mac. Picard's tablet looks a little more advanced... But, now 27 years later, Apple has caught up to the good captain, and offers a pretty futuristic device that anybody (or perhaps everybody) can (or perhaps should) use: the iPad.
 |
| The first-ever Mac, 1984 |
Alright, enough nerdiness for today.
Labels:
Apple,
computers,
Star Trek,
technology
Thursday, January 27, 2011
School of Webcraft
Mozilla and Person 2 Person University have partnered to establish the School of Webcraft, a wonderful environment in which leaders in the web development world are invited to host classes for anyone who wants to learn. There is a fairly broad selection of classes, which will only continue to grow as this project matures, and it's all free!
The sign-up date for some classes has passed, but there are still plenty of classes accepting new students. I'm enrolled in "Introduction to PHP," which delves into the (introductory) depths of database-driven websites using open-source coding.
If you have any level of interest in internet things, you should check it out! You might find something you like and learn something cool.
Info from Mozilla: http://www.drumbeat.org/p2pu-webcraft
Registration site: http://p2pu.org/webcraft/
Labels:
school of webcraft,
web development
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